Improvement in shingles



H. S. GORDNER.

Shingle.

No. 204,558. Patented June 4, 1878.

Zia/6725022" UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

HENRY S. GORDNER, OF ROSEDALE, NORTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHINGLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,558., dated June 4, 1878; application filed April 26, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. GORDNER, of Rosedale, in the county of Pasquotank and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lap- Shingles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in ventilating lap-shingles.

An intelligent boy can manufacture them with ease by means of a machine used in their construction, which planes both sides of each shingle and forms a rabbet on the two opposite sides and edges at one and the same time.

Figure 1 represents my improved lap-shingle. A B, a wedge'shaped rabbet, which tapers from A to B. This rabbet is formed on the opposite sides and edges of each shingle, as shown in the drawing.

Fig. 2 represents the butt-ends of three shingles, as described, lapped and secured on each other, showing their appearance when used in roofing. c c 0 represent open spaces, which extend about two-thirds of the length upward under each shingle. These spaces are produced by making the rabbets for the said two-thirds, or thereabout, of the length of the shingle of less depth than one-half the thickness of the shingle, leaving, therefore, more than one-half the thickness of the shingle in the parts fitted thereto. Each shingle is secured firmly in position by means of one lap and one nail. e e represent the method of using the nails, while 6, Fig. 1, represents the true relative position of the nail when used in practice.

Fig. 3 represents an upper end View of Fig.

2, showing all the ends flush with each other at their termination. The upper third of each layer of shingles will lie very close to the next.

It is the object of the invention to confine the ventilation to the lower two-thirds of each shingle, and rain, snow, or moisture are prevented from ascending under the upper third portion of the shingle, and the roof is secured from dry-rot.

A shingle constructed as described can be quickly put in position and secured by the shingler, both sides being alike, and each shingle a match to its mate. There will be, also, great economy in the use of nails, since each nail used will secure two sides at once, and as the nail passes through only one side of each shingle the latter is allowed to contract and expand without danger of cracking or warping by the changes of weather, while the shingle will be more secure by my invention than by two nails on the usually constructed shingle.

By my invention several kinds of timber could be brought into use for shingles, which at present cannot be used by reason of their tendency to warp.

I claim- The lap-shingle herein described, having wedge-shaped rabbets upon its side edges, said rabbets for two-thirds, or thereabout, the length of the shingle being less than half the thickness of the shingle, and the parts fitting thereto having more than one-half said thickness, whereby a ventilating-space is produced, as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY S. GORDNER.

Witnesses THOMAS TAYLOR, L. HINSON. 

